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Federal workers could see paychecks resume this week as the Senate moved closer Monday to ending a 40-day government shutdown that has left more than a million employees without pay and disrupted critical services nationwide.
The chamber advanced a compromise spending bill late Sunday after several Democrats joined Republicans to clear a procedural vote, though the deal has exposed sharp divisions within the Democratic caucus over healthcare provisions.
The measure would fund the government through January, with some agencies receiving full-year appropriations. It also reverses recent federal worker terminations and restores funding to programs including SNAP, which provides food assistance to more than 42 million Americans.
"After 40 days of uncertainty, I'm profoundly glad to be able to announce that nutrition programs, our veterans, and other critical priorities will have their full-year funding," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Sunday night.
The shutdown, which began October 1, has increasingly affected daily life for Americans. Air travel has faced particular strain in recent days, with hundreds of flight cancellations piling up and amplifying pressure on lawmakers to reach an agreement.
At the center of the impasse are expiring health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Democrats have demanded immediate extension of the subsidies, which are set to lapse at year's end. Without action, millions of Americans enrolled in marketplace plans could see their premiums double. Republicans have insisted such negotiations occur only after government operations restart.
The compromise does not guarantee the subsidies will be extended, instead promising a future vote on the issue—a concession that has split Senate Democrats.
"This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren't willing to do," said Senator Tim Kaine, who supported the measure. He added that the bill "will protect federal workers from baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer opposed the agreement, saying he "can not in good faith support this CR that fails to address the health care crisis." He warned: "This fight will and must continue."
The bill now heads to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which could vote as early as Wednesday. If approved, it would then require President Donald Trump's signature.
"It looks like we're getting very close to the shutdown ending," Trump said Sunday evening after returning to Washington from Florida.
Even with swift congressional action, the funding process could still take days before reaching the president's desk.
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